'We have become so greedy'

Wrong trend

Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt is angry with the current trend of Rs 100-crore films because he feels it overshadows the success of small-budget movies.

“The tragedy of our times is that we have become so greedy that we are not satisfied with anything less than the number one spot. That’s why we tell our athletes that you have lost the gold instead of saying you have won a silver,” said Bhatt.

“Similarly, we salute only those films that do a business of Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore. We don’t praise a film that does good business within its category,” he added.

Bhatt is known for making small-budget movies with new talents such as ‘Murder’, Raaz and Jism. Right now he is looking forward to Raaz 3, which has Bipasha Basu in the lead role, and says only she could have done full justice to the role.

“I think Bipasha has the hunger to stay on top now. She is refusing to concede this place to anybody and when you see her performance in Raaz 3, you will find it for yourself that she has given the kind of conviction and the kind of emotional depth which only she could have given,” he said.

Raaz 3 marks Bipasha’s return to Bhatt camp after ten years. Raaz 3 also stars Esha Gupta, and Bhatt said that she debuted with Jannat 2 but could not make the impact that a newcomer normally makes in a debut film.

“But that was not because she was not talented but because her role was not challenging enough. In this film (Raaz 3), she has really astounded herself and all of us,” he added.

Directed by Vikram Bhatt, Raaz 3 also stars Emraan Hashmi and is slated for a September 7 release.